At River City Sports outlets in Winnipeg, the retail chain’s regional manager Zak Rubin calls the purchasing frenzy for new Jets merchandise a good kind of mayhem. Stuff bearing the logos of the NHL’s reborn team has taken over half of a new River City store at Kildonan Place Shopping Centre, while the place looks about as busy as an airport terminal.

“It’s nuts. If you look any which way in the store, it’s people everywhere trying to buy something Jets for somebody,” Rubin said. “No matter what it is — whether it’s socks, or a T-shirt or a jersey. Everybody is going to have something Jets under their tree this year.”

According to Rubin, the chain’s four Winnipeg outlets are breaking sales records on virtually a daily basis because of this merry Jets-mas, and are maybe doubling overall sales they saw leading up to Christmas last year. Just about anything with a Jets logo is in demand, though jerseys — among the more expensive items — appear to be most popular.

Alexander Burmistrov, Evander Kane, captain Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien are the players whose names are on most Jets jerseys going out the doors.

“Burmistrov has been a huge hit, more than expected,” Rubin said.

“Those are the big ones, but we’re selling Pavelecs and Enstroms. And people are customizing their own names. It’s pretty much non-stop.”

It’s about the same frenzy, it appears, at the team’s two Jets Gear retail shops as well.

Chuck Davidson, vice-president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, went to MTS Centre’s Jets Gear store on Friday hoping to buy two jerseys.

“I was told they’re selling out of Evander Kane jerseys. They only have them in certain sizes now. The store was packed pretty solid,” Davidson said. “Luckily, my kid changed his mind this morning and doesn’t want Evander Kane. He wants Byfuglien. Otherwise, it would be a pretty sour Christmas morning.”

Particularly popular is Jets winter wear such as toques and scarves, said Rubin. He pointed as well to Jets gift wrap, glassware and even Zamboni night-lights and lip balm as strong sellers.

“It’s been crazy,” said shopper Tom Thordarson, while looking for a hat to wear to the Jets game on Saturday night against the Anaheim Ducks. “We’ve been to this store, and to other stores and other malls. There are long lineups and definitely a lot of interest in the Jets stuff, for sure.”

Rubin advises Jets fans if they want certain items, to get them when they see them on shelves.

“We put it out, and it goes off the shelf quicker than we can restock it,” he said. “If you’re at one of our stores and you see something you like of the Jets, grab it. Because it will be gone within an hour.”